Self-filler lever device for fountain pens



v 1,637,202 y 1927' w. A. RAPPEPORT ET AL SELF FILLER LEVER DEVICE FOR FOUNTAIN PENS Filed Dec. 1922 Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BAPPELPORT AND CHARLES HARDY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-FILLER LEVER DEVICE FOR FOUNTAIN TENS.

Application filed. December 30, 1922. Serial No. 609,871.

7 This invention relates to a self-filler lever device for fountain pens.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive but highly efficient means for mounting the lever- A further object is to so construct the parts of the device that integral portions of flanges standing to constitute guide elements for guiding the lever and maintaining it in operative position at all times.

A further object is to provide an improved form of squeeze bar, or spring. having parts to insure its proper and efficient engagement with the lever at all times.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above. will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements. combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention, and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and inwhiohwe have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the inven- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view thril a pen shell constructed in accordance with this invention, being partly in elevation and illustrating the invention therein in aesociation with the, usual collapsible ink the same after a preliminary operation has been performed in the production of-the guide flanges, and

Figure 6 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. but showing the condition of the shell after the formation of the flanges has been completed but before the bending operation to complete the formation, of said flanges.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the structure which is therein illustrated. the reference character L indicates the pen shell. This may be of any size or proportions suitable for its purpose, and is preferably formed from thin sheet' metal. Vithin this shell is arranged the collapsible ink tube G for containing a supply of ink and the squeze spring H for squeezing the tube G in the usual well known manner.'

At a suitable point in the wall of the shell is formed an opening 1 within which fits and operates the lever 2. The material of the shell displaced inthe formation of the opening 1 is bent inwardly so as to form a pair of flanges 3 and l spaced apart in parallel relation one at each side of the opening. and these flanges are formed with slots 5 and 6 respectively arranged opposite each other and adapted to constitute bearings for pivot ally receiving a pair of pivot lugs 7 and 8 which project from opposite sides of the lever.

The lever may be formed in any appropriate manner but, as illustrated, is constructed from a single piece of sheet metal bent into U-cross section, the flanges, or legs of the U being indentical with each other and being shaped as clearly seen in Fig. 3; that is. they provide arelatively wide portion, as 9, at one end of the lever and a relatively reduced, or handle. portion, as 10,

at the opposite end. The portion 9 has part-s thereof struck out to constitute the lugs 7 and 8.

In assembling this lever in operative con nection with the shell. the end 9 thereof is introduced into the opening 1, being held so that the lugs 7 and 8 stand longitudinally of said opening. When the lever has. been moved inwardly so that the lugs 7 and 8 clear the inner edge of the flanges, then the lever is rotated to bring the lugs into register with the slots 5 and 6. The lever is then moved outwardly to bring the lugs to rest against the inner ends of the slots 5 and 6 where they are always thereafter held by pressure from the spring H.

Thespring be introduced into the shell, into position substantially as indicated, either before or after the introduction of the lever, .but...oneie within theshellit will.

.tion the spring will bear against thelower edges of the flanges, or legs, 11, of the lever.

Inj the dotted position the spring will bear against the inner ,end of the lever, having been sprung downwardly by the swinging movementof the inner end of the lever. In

each instance the, spring always urges the jivot' lugs of thelever upwardly against the upper, or closed, ends of the pivot slots.

The springH may be of any desired form or construction, but a particular feature lofj the present invention consists in making ithatflport on of the spring WlllCll engages thelever to be of cross section substantially as seen in Fig. 4; that is. so that it provides a central rilnjor ridge .12 which will extend upwardly between the flanges 3 and l and engage the loweredges ofthe fiangesof the lever, and so that it provides spaced grooves 13 at opposite sides of the, ridge, 0r rib 12 into which the flanges '11 may move, and

also so that it ,provides edge flange. portions 14 for lapping upwardly about the flanges 3 and 4, said flanges l lbeing preferably slightly divergent to insure theiri proper register with the flanges 3 and 4. A spring shaped inthis manner will operate upon the lever with uniform efficiency even i p IGSBI'VOII shell having an opening there- 105 tho the lower edges f-the flanges ofthe lever should" not project downwardly to or below the plane'ofthe lower edges of the flanges 3 and 4. The inevitable inaccuracies I in manufacture in this regard; will thus not detrimentally afiect the operation of the mechanism, andon thisaccount a less degreeofeare in manufacturewill be required and less expense incurred forfinspeetion and readjustment of the completed. articles.

Ifat anyitimeit should be necessary to remove thelever, as for themaking of'repairs, or otherwise, this maybe readily accomplished bysimply movingthe lever to thedotted line position Fig. 1, and thereafter IJressing-it manually inward to disenj gagejthepivotlugs from the slots, and then removing the lever by rotating it and drawing itoutwardlytln'u the opening 1.

f Aportion of the materialof the shell adaeent.to' the opening 1 is Preferably inset sons toprovidea seat, as 15, to which the handle end of-the lever may nest when thei lever is in norm funding position It is importantto'note that'the flanges 3 and 4 provide wall surfaces of considerable extent at opposite sides of the opening 1, and that these are so disposed withrelation to the flanges ofthe lever that they serve at all times to guide the levergnndmaintain it against likelihood of movement in any improper direction." \Vith the lever thus guided, and atthe same time having engagement with the squeeze spring H at spaced. points oneat each side of the center line otthe ridge 12 of the squeeze spring. it up- (6 parent that thespringpwill likewise be always held in proper allgned operative position. m A portion of the material of the lever between the flanges 11 at the innerend is-cut As many changes could .be made in this 55 construction without departing from the scope of the inventionas defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description. or, shown in the accompanying drawings, shall, he in- .1

terpreted. as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. a L H I I Having thus described our invention, what we claim as .new and Letters Patent is 5- v a 1. In a self-filling fountain pen. an, ink reservoir shell, a self-filler lever carried by said shell, means carried by the shell pro-V viding a pair of open ended bearings within which the lever is pivot-ally mounted," and l a squeeze spring engaging the lever'lo at all times hold said pivot parts against dislodgment from said open ended bearings. 2. In a self-filling fountain pen, an ink through, a. lever pivotallymounted within said opening, a squeeze spring engaging the lever tending. to .hold thelever in normal to swing to abnormal position, the lever be ng U-shaped in cross section and being disposed so that in its swung-down position the legs of the u pro ect intothejcasingf the lever being shaped also to. provide a, pair 115 .of spaced projectionsfithereon extending strengthening rib thereon projecting; into the space between thementioned legs and extensions and said rib providing oppositely inclining wallsfengaging said legs for main taining alignment of the squeeze spring and lever in all positions ofthe lever. i 1, 1 3. In a self-filling fountain pen, an'ink reservoir shell having, an opening therethrough, a lever extendingflthrough said,

opening, the shell atfoppositefsides of said 136 opening being shaped to provide a pair of desire to secure by i swung-down position but being yieldable ma der pressure of thelever to allowjthe lever slots therein extending substantially radially of the shell but being open at their inner ends, the outer ends being adapted to constitute bearings for the support of the lever, the lever being formed of sheet metal bent into U cross section and being disposed so that the legs of the U normally extend into the shell, and said legs having integral parts thereof bent laterally therefrom to provide pivot extensions upon the lever for engaging said bearings.

4. In a self-filling fountain pen, an ink reservoir shell having an opening therethrough, a lever extending through said opening, said lever having opposite pivot parts extending therefrom, inturned flanges formed from the material of the shell at opposite sides of said 0 ening having bearing slots therein constitutmg bearings for pivotally receiving the pivot parts of the lever, and at least one of said slots being openended to'facilitate assembly of the lever into operative position.

5. In a self-filling fountain pen, an ink reservoir shell having an opening therethrough, a lever extending through said opening the shell at opposite sides of said opening being formed with flanges projecting into the shell, said flanges having slots formed therein opening through the inner edge of said flanges and constituting bearings for the support of the lever, and pivot extensions formed rigidly upon the lever for engaging within said bearings, together with a squeeze spring arranged to be operated by the lever and having engagement with the lever to retain the pivot extensions of the lever in cooperative engagement Within said bearings.

6. In a self-filling fountain pen, an ink reservoir shell having an opening therethrough, a lever extending through said opening, said lever having opposite pivot parts extending therefrom, inturned flanges formed from the material of the shell at opposite sides of said opening having hearing slots therein constituting bearings for pivotally receiving the pivot parts of the lever, and at least one of said slots being open-ended to facilitate assembl of the lever into operative position, together with a squeeze spring arranged to be operated by the lever and having engagement with the lever to retain the pivot parts of the lever in cooperative engagement within said bearmgs.

7. In a self-filling fountain pen, an ink reservoir shell having an opening therethrough, a lever extending through said opening, said lever being formed from a single elongated piece of sheet metal bent into U-cross section providing a pair of legs adapted to extend into the shell in the usual manner, the shell having inturned flanges within said openings arranged to provide a pivot bearing, the lever having parts of its legs intermediate the length of the lever bent laterally therefrom to provide pivot lugs pivotally engaging within said pivot bearing, a squeeze spring with which the end of the lever slidably engages during the pivotal movement of the lever, and the engagement of the squeeze spring with the lever serving to hold the pivot lugs of the lever in operative pivotal engagement with said bearing.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

WILLIAM A. RAPPEPORT. CHARLES HARDY. 

